Microsoft Holiday Store Opens Friday at Beachwood Place

Microsoft's first holiday retail store in Ohio opens Friday morning at Beachwood Place.

The company is billing the retail store as the only location electronic consumers can try and buy its new tablet, the Microsoft Surface. Shoppers can also expect to test the newly released Windows 8 on various platforms.

Microsoft spokesman Ted Ladd said the City of Beachwood and the mall have the traffic and demand the corporation was looking for when deciding on a new retail site.

"We deliberately chose high-traffic malls and locales like Beachwood Place to bring an assortment of Microsoft best-in-class products and a premium retail experience to new locations," he wrote in an email.

The Beachwood location is one of about 30 new stores Microsoft is opening to market its new tablet during the holiday season. The shops will include a panoramic wall wrapping around the entire space where shoppers can watch video and try out video games before they buy them.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

"Beachwood Place will be the only place in Ohio where shoppers can test out the device," Ladd said. "Our customers have been telling us they really enjoy the unique experience the Microsoft holiday stores have to offer."